AMD Fusion for Tablet Chips to Consume 2W or 4W - Slides.

Even though just about seven or eight months ago Advanced Micro Devices did not have any plans for chips aimed at tablets, the company now seems to have a roadmap for system-on-chips designed for slates that spans till 2013, based on slides that resemble those from AMD roadmaps.

As reported an, the first AMD platform for tablets - based on Brazos architecture - will feature Fusion chip code-named Desna that will be have reduced clock-speeds and trimmed power consumption. AMD is looking forward to cut down energy consumption of Desna with I/O controller to 4W, according to slides published by Donanimhaber web-site which resemble slides from AMD's roadmaps. Previously it was reported that AMD's first chip for tablets will have 5.5W or 5.9W power consumption. Desna is in production now, but it is unlikely that it will truly win a lot of designs, but will rather become a proof-of-concept.

The second-generation AMD platform for tablets - Brazos-T - will be, as reported, based on code-named Hondo Fusion chip with power-optimized Bobcat cores as well as DirectX 11 graphics core. The chip will feature 2W app power with input/output controller known as "Hudson" M2T (as well as sub 4.5W TDP). AMD will start sampling of Hondo in December and will be ready for production in Q2 2012, according to the slides. The company aims to deliver the chips in volume in time for Windows 8 launch.

AMD officially did not disclose any details about the forthcoming Hondo chip. Previously AMD promised to release code-named Wichita chip (which was supposed to be a version of code-named Krishna APU for netbooks and thin notebooks) for tablets in 2012. According to the information published, Hondo will be a version of Ontario, which means that it will be made using 40nm process technology.

In fact, even 2W is a lot for tablets or smartphones, so the code-named Samara platform due in 2013 is likely to feature even lower power consumption thanks to tablet-optimized input/output interfaces, next-generation graphics engine and other innovations.